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Sunday, July 22, 2012

Gaza,
July 22, A few days ago, a whirl of windy allegations stirred when news
alleging that a Christian in Gaza was forced into conversion. The Christian
community in Gaza decreases each year due
to immigration and other reasons. Christians consider themselves a minority
with only 3000 approx. of them left in Gaza.

The story that surfaced was personal to me, not
only as a journalist, but as a person who knew Ramez Al Amash from school and
sat beside him in the class room for two consecutive years. I have many Christian
friends here in Gaza so this story meant something to me. I chose to wait and
take my time in researching so I don’t end up giving them or Muslims any
injustice.

Al Amash family, along with other Christians,
staged a public protest infront of the Palestinian legislative council last
week in Gaza. They claimed their son was kidnapped after they found a piece of
paper with his hand writing saying: "I converted to Islam, Please forgive
me". They escalated the whole issue by getting all media involved; they
even turned to their church seeking involvement. Western media rushed to the
scene in a frenzied enthusiasm, they finally got the chance of backing up their
false claims that turns Gaza into an Islamic medieval city.

Archbishop Alexius, Orthodox Church in Gaza, rushed
to issue a statement to the press accusing "militant Islamic groups"
in Gaza of kidnapping Christians and forcing them into conversion using
"dirty ways" and terrorism. He accused those groups of kidnapping 5 congregants
in Gaza (Ramez Al Amash, Hiba Abu Dawood and her three girls).

LA Times, AP, Fox news and numerous other
western media in addition to Islamophobic websites jumped on the story once it
went viral, they wanted to exploit it. They forget their objectivity and
professionalism and decided not to wait or verify their stories.

PCHR weighed in and planned a friendly meeting
with Ramez and his parents. He assured them that the video showing him saying
he is fine and he converted out of conviction was true. His father accepted the
new Ramez but his mother kept telling him to say the truth.

Mona Al Amash, Ramez's mother, was deep in
denial. She issued sizzling statements to all press saying that no matter how
long everyone and Ramez keep telling her that Ramez converted out of conviction;
it will remain untrue to her. "I know how I raised him, I know who he is, and
he can't become a Muslim in two days. I don’t care about the video or Ramez's assurance;
I am sure my son is still a Christian and will forever be one," she added
while sobbing.

Rumors surfaced saying that Ramez fell in love
with a Muslim girl and she either taught him about Islam or asked him to
convert as a condition of their marriage. Christians spread this rumor and said
that Ramez told his parents about her but they rejected the whole idea. Ramez
and his family remain silent about this story, they chose not to comment.

Another rumor surfaced of Ramez being beaten up
when he went to visit his fainted mother in the hospital after she heard the
news. His family said that she entered shouting "I am still a Christian mom"
and then he was beaten with his mother and sister. The story turned out to be
untrue. The real story goes like this: Ramez tried to soften things for his
mother so he told her he is still a Christian and she should wake up, he was
then grabbed by his family so the Police had to intervene and take him away to
a safe place. This story was confirmed by Ayman Al Batniji, Police Chief in
Gaza, and many other witnesses.

Ramez, 24, stopped talking to the media but accepted
to talk to me as his friend. He told me that he wanted to become a Muslim for
over five months; he has been living like one and hiding it from his family.
"I turned to Sheikh Salem Salamah, Association of Muslim Scholars in Gaza,
four times and asked him to help me become a Muslim but he would reject me and
ask me to go back to my family. Until the last time, I went and begged him to
listen to me and help me. I assured him that I still want to be with my family
but I want to convert to Islam after full conviction. He accepted and he helped
me," Ramez added with a tired voice.

"I was overwhelmed with all the media and
all the organizations that intervened and I couldn’t understand the deep denial
my mother was in and I was worried about her. They say I wasn’t normal in the
youtube video. Yes, I wasn’t normal, I was tired and overwhelmed. I didn’t think
my story will have such consequences," Ramez concluded.

Archbishop Alexius shared his regret of issuing
such a statement from the Orthodox Church in Gaza before verifying Ramez and
Hiba's stories and relying on allegations only. Especially after the statements
of Bassem Na'eem, Gaza minister of health and Ayman Batniji, Gaza police chief,
which asked the "Christian brothers and sisters" to verify the
stories and accept the new conversions so as to not ruin the great brotherhood
between Christians and Muslims in Gaza.

Mona Al Amash and The Orthodox Church in Gaza
both made heated statements about the Christians' future in Gaza after all
these conversions. They claimed that the Christians in Gaza will face
distinction, blaming "Militant Islamic Groups" which turned out later
to be just allegations and those congregants converted out of conviction.

Ramez decided to go and live with his family
because he loves his family and in Islam family ties are honored on a high
level. He expects hardships and obstacles to be a new Muslim living between a
Christian family but he will do his best to survive until he gets married and
move out or move out after he did his best to surpass any hardships.

Ramez's mother remains in full denial and still
insists that her son is a Christian who was forced into conversion despite the
assurance and confirmation of Ramez himself, Association of Muslim Scholars,
Gaza police, PCHR and many others. But this is understandable, Christian
community here is a minority and they are very protective. Many conversions
happened and the first reaction would always be "denial".

Moving on to Hiba Abu Dawood's story, Hiba
studied at the Islamic University in Gaza. She had to study many Islamic
subjects within her major. She started asking questions to her professors,
friends and classmates about Islam. She was very interested.

Hiba started parting away from her Christian
husband. Yet, he suspected nothing. She started changing and she started
exploring Islam. She was very moved and touched by the Islamic prayer and
fasting. "I always wanted to be closer to god, now I have five chances
everyday to pray for God and make dua. I love fasting, its so spiritual,"
Hiba added happily.

Hiba confirms strongly that she converted out
of full conviction and after a long time of thinking. "I made my
decision," she added strongly. Hiba sent her family a message saying she
misses them all and she will always love them but she made her decision and she
hopes they accept her as a convert.

"I am staying with a family who heard
about my story and wanted to adopt me. They take care of me and my three girls,
they provide us with everything we need and they help me learn more about Islam.
I am very comfortable and happy. I am not sick like my family has been
told," Hiba added.

"I hope my family isn’t sad or angry with
me, they are welcome to visit me anytime," Hiba concluded. Hiba then was
surprised after she learned that the church is asking for the custody of her
three daughters claiming that they are still Christians and they want to make
sure they are well and not forced or hated.

"I am very surprised. These are my
daughters and nobody will love them or raise them better than I will. I will
not force them into anything. I will love them and raise them no matter they
remain Christians or convert into Islam. I wasn’t forced to convert, how can I
do that to my daughters? I won't give my daughters up and

I will fight for them
if they were taken by force," Hiba added chokingly through a phone call.

A story also surfaced of a New Zealander
Journalist who came to Gaza a year ago and decided to stay then converted to
Islam. Her name is Julie and she said that she belonged to Islam even before
she heard about it.

Many other stories of new converts surfaced and yet many other rumors circled them. But the truth has to shine at the end just like the truth about Ramez and Hiba surfaced at the end.